tomgamber wrote:I think I saw that "fairplay" stuff at the mart...I'd buy seconds online before that stuff.

It is, indeed, Fairplay. And I'll bet that's just another name for whatever their cheapest line is.

Walmart's a funny place, when you cut a deal to have them sell your stuff, they want it at a certain price, and so many units. I don't believe for a second that the stuff in the Fairplay box is going to be all that much different from the stuff in the 444 box, it just doesn't make economic sense to run so many different production lines, y'know?

So, between a factory second and the Fairplay, I'd probably go with the Fairplay. On a good rod I'm going to use alot, I'd probably be willing to err on the side of chosing a well known line than either of those.

I've taken to using the Fairplay tippet material now from Walmart. Its half the price of the SA stuff I preferred and more available. Like above, I mostly put the Fairplay on when I'm not concerned about things too much, but its good enough for me to use.

Of course not but one doesn't ever need to tie a nail knot streamside. Here's what I, and many of my friends, do. Save the butt end from an old leader and cut off the Perfection loop, make your piece about two feet long. Then use the nail knot tier tool or have someone do it for you so you now have the heavy butt nail knotted to the end of your fly line. Now make a Perfection Loop on the remaining tag end of the butt but don't make it any longer than 6" - 10". Now your all ready to take a new leader with a Perfection loop on it and go loop to loop and fish.

BTW I often will have the same tapered leader on a line for months! I always buy tapered leaders that are 9' long and 1X size heavier than what I want. Then I tie a very small Perfection Loop at the very end of the tapered leader and at home I'll tie up half a dozen tippets, say 5X, 24" - 36" long with a Perfection loop on one end then just loop the tippet to the loop at the end of the leader. When it gets short unloop it, and put on another pre-made tippet.

Some guys may say it will "hinge" with all the loops - I say horse puckey to that and I've never felt there is one iota of difference between the loop to loops or tippets attached via blood knots.

That's the same basic tool as the nippers version I have, just with only the nail knot functionality: No, there is no problem with it at all. In the beginning, I used it so infrequently I had to track down instructions, but used nail knots very frequently (new lines and changing out the old attachment methods), I have no problem.

I've even doubled up the fly line and then laid down two nail knots in a row for rear loops (put a bimini twist into the backing), and I'm pleased as punch.

Joined:2007/4/8 20:43From Lehigh ValleyPosts: 1245 Nail knot a piece of mono on the end with a perfection loop in the end. Perfection loop your leaders, problem mostly solved.

The perfection loop is easy, and any good fly shop should help you with a nail knot if you can't get it with practice. I own a tool called a Tie-Fast (functionally the same as this that makes nail knots completely painless. I bought mine at Dick's or Walmart, and it was well worth the $10 I paid for it.

I would second the above advice and add that I use a piece of #25 Amnesia mono either in Hi-Vis Red or Chartruse. The Tie-Fast tool makes and excellent knot and I usually hit it with some UV glue (LOON) the colored mono acts just like a strike indicator and straightens out nice even when on the spool for a while. I use about a 10 to 12 inch piece and loop my leader directly to it.